Maiah Islam ‘21
Photo courtesy of Kemi Odeyemi
Imagine after a lengthy time of studying and preparing for the SAT, you finally arrive at the center to take the test only for the proctor to tell you your ID is invalid. This scenario can happen to EA students who try to use their school ID as a picture ID for a College Board exam.
The College Board is no stranger to students at EA. Whether it be for AP exams, the SAT, or SAT Subject Tests, EA students will most likely interact with this institution at some point throughout their high school career.
In order to take a College Board exam, students must present a form of ID at the site of testing. Forms of identification may include: driver’s licenses, passports, and for most students, school IDs. For a school ID to be valid, it must have the school year on it. EA’s student IDs, however, are not equipped with this feature. This has recently become an issue as EA students are coming to test sites without proper identification, and thus being denied entry to take tests.
One problem, though, that surfaces with the discussion of reprinting ID cards to have the school year on them is the reprinting itself. Joseph Shanahan, Director of Campus Security, states that the school “did not intend to print over 800 new cards each year.”
Issuing a new ID card to every student at the start of each new school year would be incredibly inefficient but perhaps only certain grades, such as sophomores, juniors, and seniors, would get theirs reprinted.
Many students agree with this solution, like Tony Thomas ‘21 who says, “I think it would be a good idea if the school only remade some of the IDs, especially mine because it still has my freshman year picture on it.”
The key card issue is not very public as Upper School Head, Mike Letts states, “I wasn’t aware that the cards were being denied by the College Board.” However, changes may be made as Letts plans to “speak with Mr. Shanahan to see what we can do to get the key cards printed in a way that makes them acceptable to College Board.”
Another issue that arises with the reprinting of school IDs to make them valid for the College Board is whether or not students would actually using them for entrance. Sona Bardakjian ‘21 says, “I probably wouldn’t use my school ID for entrance even if it did have the year on it just because I feel like using my passport is a little safer as school IDs can be copied easily.”
Adam Oliva ‘21 used his driver’s license “because it is on me all the time and easier to remember.”
But, in contrast, Ava Petillo ‘21 says, “it would be a lot easier to be able to use my school ID instead of having to dig for my passport every time I take a test.”
However, if an EA student did want to use his or her school ID, there is another option, says Shanahan. “I believe the College Board does offer a student ID form that can be completed by EA to serve as proper documentation for entrance to the exam.”
Photo courtesy of Kemi Odeyemi ‘20
Though not directly connected to EA, a similar issue arises with the Pennsylvania government not accepting driver’s licenses as real IDs. Pennsylvania does not conform to the majority of states in this way.
Shanahan clarifies the purpose of a real ID saying that they “will be required for purposes such as boarding a domestic flight, entering a military facility or federal facility.”
Students should be mindful and aware of the possibility of their ID being invalid next time they try to use their school ID as a formal identification.